The Zoe and Silas Show

9/10/14: We have started a new reinforcement system that has been working pretty well on most days. Here Silas is showing off his "awesome" status, while Zoe sat in a 4-minute timeout. Zoe drew an amazing picture of a shark at school on Wednesday. When I asked her where she got the idea she told me all about their trip to the school library that day. We heart school!!!

7/9/14: Drawing on the chalkboard, wearing nightshirts.  Today I decided to skip ahead and catch up - I will backfill the last 3 weeks as time permits! I know how much my parents love the blog so I'm going to try really hard to get the picture posted each day and not pile up a backlog, because that's when I get behind...

You may have inferred from the tardiness of my posts the last few weeks that I am BEYOND BUSY (at work) right now. I have realized that I may not being able to finish the photo-a-day project this year (sniff sniff). I'll try to keep posting at least once a week, but the photo project may be coming to an end mid-year... ***** 6/2/14: Many mornings starting with craft projects and this particular Monday morning was no different. Silas took apart a foam bead necklace they made at school and used it to add some dimensionality to a collaborative project. S&Z are really into the flowers we recently planted and they helped me water when I got home from work!

4/29/19: Another collaborative project. I missed the money shot, but at one point Zoe's right hand was draped over Silas' left hand and they were coloring stars at the same time...

2/14/14: Silas was the VIP at school this week, so we headed over after lunch for Derek to read the story of Silas' choosing, "Rattletrap Car". When we got home from school S&Z had fun checking out all of their valentine cards & treats. They also got a few cards in the mail - thanks to the grandparents & Auntie Kristin! They LOVED getting your love mail!  After nap we got to work making birthday cards for Daddy... HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

1/9/14: It was Zoe & Silas' first day of swimming lessons at the Y, but Derek forgot his phone at home. There will be lots of make-up pictures to come next week. Bottom line: they both loved it!!! We got an Amazon order a few days ago and they have building a "rocket ship" out of the box ever since. Gotta love the imagination of 4-year-olds!

12/23/13: I took advantage of my parents being here and went to the gym before getting a massage late Monday afternoon. While I was gone my mom got the kids involved in helping her wrap a few Christmas gifts. There was also time for some portraiture! Derek got silicone tree molds at the lab Yankee swap so we decided to make confetti cake trees for Santa instead of cookies this year. We baked the cakes on Monday night before bed so that we could decorate them Christmas Eve morning. I love Christmas traditions!

12/16/13: Working on a joint art project wearing the snowman t-shirts they painted at school.

12/11/13: S&Z snuggled up on the couch to read books when I got home from work tonight. Before pj's they wanted to work on the "paint by number" kit one of them won at the Christmas party on Sunday. They worked on it so nicely together! Of course, they couldn't do the paint by number part as it was geared for an 8+ year old (it was supposed to be a motorcycle). They had a blast, though, and it turned out awesome-sauce all the same!

11/22/13: Last Friday was a rainy, dreary day - perfect weather for some afternoon painting! S&Z started out doing their own projects, But as usual they ended up working on something together. I love this picture - using opposite dominant hands for painting, unused hands by their sides, heads close together in concentration... We added some new additions to the hallway gallery!

11/15/13: Zoe and Silas were racing their bikes around the house before school this morning, and they decided to make a 'STOP' sign. We have some letter stickers so they pulled them out and got to work. The funny part I realized later is that they didn't ask me how to spell stop - they knew how, they just put the stickers down backwards! After nap they started racing bikes again, although this time one of them played the gatekeeper and held up the stop sign (to which they added a stoplight on the back) to indicate whether the other should go, slow down, or stop. Reason #579 that being a twin is awesome.

11/8/13: Many a wonderful creations are made in S&Z's craft corner these days. Oftentimes they will make a project together - it is just awesome to watch the process.  Silas in particular is showing more and more of a creative spirit recently. He spends A LOT of time here by himself while Zoe plays with other toys.  His "projects" are often so elaborate that they are worked on over a span of several sessions. I am so excited to go Christmas shopping for new art supplies for them! 4-year-old crafting happens at an entirely different level... This is our fridge - I swap out the pictures regularly. Seeing it everyday makes me so happy! I am certain it's one of the things I will miss the most someday.  *Sniff sniff*.

10/20/13: My friend Bill was in town last weekend so the kids and I went downtown to meet up with him before he headed back to NYC. S&Z were very friendly with him right off the bat, even though we haven't seen him for 2 years which they surely they don't remember... Zoe drew a picture of him and wrote his name. She's getting pretty good at this writing thing! We had lunch and sat and talked for over two hours while the kids colored. At one point Bill quietly directed my attention toward Silas, who had taken a brown marker and colored all over his face and sweatshirt. We had a great afternoon catching up! The kids were absolutely exhausted when we got home.

10/19/13: After a busy morning the kids and I enjoyed a mellow afternoon and evening at home. Zoe was cute and sleepy after she got up from her nap, whereas Mr. No Napper was busy doing art projects in the new craft corner. Zoe drew a picture of Daddy this week and then WROTE 'daddy' on the picture when Derek told her how to spell it. We made flatbread pizzas for dinner and enjoyed a Halloween-themed table setting! I LOVE this time of year!